Centrifugal pump



June 7, 1932. A. w. Bu'RKs CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed June 26, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 pump which includes a rotor havin Patented June 7, 1.932

PATENT Mmm w. mmxs, or nmurun, ILmNors i. i Y

appliance and :une as,

The present invention relates to pumps and more particularly to pumps ofthe centrifugal t pe. Inm Patent 1,619,286, issued Marc 1 1927, t ere isdisclosed a roiiry a Jacent its margin an annular series of uckets whichserve to propel fluid throgha substantially circular raceway from aninlet to an outlet, there being a substantially waterti ht fit atopposite sides of the ra-ceway.

he present invention relates to pumps of this type and has as an objectto provide a pump of this character with a multiplicity of racewaysarranged in a novel manner and cooperating with a rotor of diii'erentconstruction.v v

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a pump having a pluralityof longitudinally arcuate raceways each having an inlet and an outletindependent of the inlet and outlet of the other and arranged preferablyin' a common plane with radii of curvature of the same length. Theinvention also seeks to provide in association with such a racewayarrangement, a rotor of novel construction having an annular series ofblades adapted to traverse both raceways from their inlets to theiroutlets and also having a plurality of peripherally directed passageswhich serve to direct a high velocity liquid discharge toward theseraceways. For this purpose there is provided a primary raceway adaptedto receive the centrifugal discharge from the rotor passages and todirect the Huid into bh of the first mentioned raoewavs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of this characterhaving as-4 sociated therewith means for forming a liquid whirl ooladapted to separate air by centrifugal orce as disclosed in my Patent1,686,549, granted October 9, 1928. The invention aims to provideadjacent eachfinlet .for the longitudinally arcuate raceways andadjacent each outlet a pocket adapted to set up a liquid whirlpool whichseparates air from the liquid by centrifugal force.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention willbecome clearer as the description proceeds in connection -6-6 of Figure2.V

UENTRIFUGAL ma. semi '110. mma ,i y.

with a preferred embodiment disclosed in the accompanying drawings. Inthese drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional'view on the line 1-i-1 of Figure 2.' .i

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional viewon the line 2-2 of Figure 1`.`

Figure 3 is a sectional view `on the line 3 3ofFigul'eZ.` Figure 4 isaface view ofthe raceway sectionofthepump. v" i Y Figure 5 is a faceview of the opposite side A of the raceway section. f y.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the `line Fi I re 7 is asectional viewon the line 7-7 of Figure 2, and

Figure 8 is a face broken away. y p n ,y

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicatesaportion 'of a pump casing havingsecured thereto, asby cap screws 11, asecondsection 12,`the two sections being of substantiallyuniformfdameter and serving to'clamp therebetween a plate-like racewaysection 13 "of "somewhat smaller diameter thanthe`[irst,rrien'tionied's'ections, so that its marginal portion; mayitland be clampedV hetween'a sliculderjlfl on the section 12 and `ashoulder; on thecasingfsecf tion 11. The raceway "n '1,3 'has `fori'nedon a lateral face a plurali :'Jfoffraceways 16,

17, each of which isloiigitlldinally arcuate' the feter partly and alsoarcuate in crosfssectioinas shownfl'n Stantiauy filled by? en p p servesto min'imize'jt A Q the outlet op'eni1'i`g;fv of one raceway.toftheflnletfj auyaush with che ends of blades 2e on the rotor 124, theblades forming therebetween an annularseries of buckets adapted to ropelways`16, 17 in the liquid through the raceways. Aswill observed, therotor and raceway section are provided, at radially oppositesides of theracewa and bucks with com lemental ribs ands grooves w lich intert andform a substantially huid-tight seal, although if desired the ribs maybe notched to permit passage from the racewa into the grooves of a verysli ht amountv of 'quid suiiicient tommimize friction between opposedsurfaces. ."Ihe rotor 24 is actuatedV by means of a-shaft 25 to whichthe rotor is connected, the shaft extendoutwardly throuh a stuiing box27 and liilearing 28 forme in arms 10 cast with the ump section 10.

As will understood, oseration of the rotor will serve to pro l iiuithrough the racedaiiection of the arrows A. The liquid which isdischarged through the outlet opening 20 enters a discharge chamberformed in the section 12. This chamber is of irre ar formation andcomprisesfan .upper poc et 29 disposed at the outlet opening 19 and alower pocket 30, the two poc ets being connected by means of asubstantially circular channel 31 disposed between a circular inner wall32a and an outer wall 33 of similar formation. The passage communicateswith the lower pocket through an opening 34 formed in the outer wall andwith the upper pocket 29 through an opening 35 formed in the outer wall33. One of the pockets, in the sresent instance the upper pocket 29, hasa ischarge line connection 36 for discharge of liquid or air, or both,fromv the pump. This dischar connection is, therefore, in communicationwith both pockets of the chamber, in the present instance directly withthe pocket 29 and through the latter with the pocket 30. Liquiddischarged into the two pockets through the outlet openings 19, 21, setsup a liquid whirlpool indicated by the. arrows W in Figure 6. Thesewhirlpools tend to separate air by centrifugal force and the liquid ofthe whirlpool due to its location adjacent the buckets, to the path ofwhich the whirl l is tangential, engages the buckets and Egglacestherefrom into -the whirlpool air containedin the buckets. Furtherdescription of this feature of the invention is thought unnecessarysince the general operation of the whirlpool is set forth in my Patent1,686,549, granted ,October 9, 1928. It will be understood, however,that any liquid which may be carried away fromeither whi r1- l as thebuckets leave `the discharge openings will be carried'into the otherraceway and after assing through the latter will be discharge throughthe outlet openingr of the second raceway. Although the cut-off webs 22serve to keep this liquid at a minimum, a' small amount will necessarilybe carried away i,sei.eee

from each whirlpool, but an equivalent amount will be supplied theretoin the manner described.

Moreover, the manner in which the li uid passes throu h each of theraceways 16, 1 in a helical pat repeatedly entering and leaving thebuckets need not be here described, since it is fully set forth in mPatent 1,619,286, granted March 1, 1927. e path of travel of the liquidin each of the raccways 16, 17 is identical with that described in saidpatent, the only difference between the raceways-being that in the formof the pres ent application they'are somewhat shorter. Each raceway is,however, cross sectionally arcuate on radii substantially the same asthe radii of curvature of the bucket bottoms in the rotor, whereby thewalls of the buckets and rnceways merge and do not interfere with thewhirling or helical movement of the liqiid as it passes through theraceways.

he liquid is not supplied directly to the raceways as in the abovementioned stent, but according to the present invention lilas impartedthereto, preferably by the same rotor, a considerable velocity andpressure before entering the raceways. For this purpose the rotor isformed with a plurality of peripherally directed passa 38 formed betweenthe substantially radially disposed webs 39.

These webs serve to connect a rear wall 46 of the rotor and a wall 41curved in cross section and carrying the buckets on one lateral face.4

The rear surface of the wall41 is curved toward the same face of therotor, so that liquid centrifugall discharged through the passages 38 w'l be laterally directed adjacent the periphery of the rotor.Intermediate the webs 39 are shorter webs 39 which serve to divide thepassages adjacent the periphery into a pluralit of buckets or outlets44. These outlets direct-the fluid into a raceway 45 formed on theracewav section 13 and radially spaced outwardly v rom the raceways 16,17 Liquid mayenter the passages 38 at substantially the center of therotor through opening 46 which surrounds the axis of the rotor and is inconnnunication with a supply chamber-47 formed by the inner wall 32 ofthe annular passage 31. Y

The supply chamber 47 receives fluid from a supply connection 48 andthere is disposed between the' latter and the chamber 47 a substantiallytubular strainer 49, so that foreign matter in the liquid maynot reach the rotor. This liquid after passing through the chainber 47into the rotor passages 38 is discharged ccntrifugally into the radiallyspaced raceway 45.

he raceway 45 communicates through outlet openings 50, 51 with pockets52, 53

formed in the pump section 12 at the inlet openings 18, 20, the pocketscommunicating, respectively, with the raceways 16, 17. In other words,the pockets 52 and 53 are in lll) Leonesa communication with theraceways 16 and 17 throu h the inlet openings 18, 20 and also with t eraceway 45 from which liquid is dis charged into the pockets throughopenings 50, 51. Liquid enters the ockets 52, 53 in a substantiallytangential irection, as illustrated in Figure 7, and forms anairseparating liquid whirlpool, the path of the l1 ind in the `aihirlool being generally indicate by the arrows IlV' in Figure 7. Thesewhirlpools in the pockets 52, 53 o erate in a manner similar to thewhirlpools in the pockets 29, 30 and serve to separate air fromthe`liquid as well as to displace into the whirlools the contents of theopen mouths or uckets 44 at the ends of the centrifugally dischargingpassages 38 in the rotor.

The rear face of the raceway section at the various outlet and inletopenings is beveled to provide surfaces 55 which permit the paths of thewhirlpools in the several pockets to closely approximate the paths oftravel of the buckets 23 and 44 on the rotor, thereby insuring anengagement of the whirling liquid with the buckets on the rotor and thedisplacement of any gaseous content of the buckets into the liquidwhirlpools.

The tubular strainer 49 may be readily removed without disturbing thesupply con nection 48, since it is supported beneath an entrance chamber59 which has a lower wall formed with an opening 60 permittingr theliquid to pass to the interior of the strainer. The lower end of thestrainer is closed by a cap 61 which is supported at an opening 62 bymeans of a removable plate 63. The plate 63 has one end restingupon alug64 and its other end is fastened as by means of a cap screw 65 to theWall of the section 12. To clean or replace the screen 49, it is simplynecessary to disconnect the plate 63 and the screen may then be loweredthrough the opening 62. The entrance chamber 59 may be inspected, as forthe purpose of determining whether the strainer should be cleaned,through a port 66 normally closed by a threaded plug 67 This port. alsoserves the purpose of priming the pump should, for any reason, the whirlool pockets 29, 30, 52, 53 become empty. rdinarily, however, thesepockets will serve to retain a suicient amount of iuid to causeevacuation of air from the supply line and initiate liquid pumping.

Obviously, numerous modifications may be made in the structureillustrated and described without departing from the invention, theessential features of which are set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, aradially spaced raceway having openings leading therefrom to said inleto nings, a rotor having a series of buckets agpted to traverse saidarcuate raceways and having a series of eripherally directed andcentrifugall disc arging passages independent of sai buckets emptyinginto said last-mentioned raceway, means for introducing liquid into saidrotor passages, and means for discharging from the pump liquid whichgasses' through the outlet openings of said rst-mentioned racewa s.

2. In a Jump of t e class described, a plurality o longitudinallyarcuate racewa s with radii of curvature of substantial y equal lengtheach having an inlet openin and an outlet opening, a radiall spaceraceway having openings leading t erefrom to said inlet openings, arotor havin a series of buckets adapted to traverse sai arcuate racewaysand havin a series of peripherally directed and centriugally dischargingpas sages independent of said buckets emptying into said last-mentionedraceway, means for introducing liquid into said rotor assages, and meansfor dischargin from t e pump liquid which iasses throug the outletopenings of said rst-mentioned raceways.

3. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways each having an inlet openingand an outlet opening, araceway spaced radially outwardly from said first-mentioned raceways andhaving openings leading therefrom to said inlet openings, a rotor havinga series of buckets adapted to traverse said inner race- Way and havinga series of peripherally directed and centrifugall discharging passagesindependent of sai buckets and emptying into said outer raceway, meansfor introducing liquid into said rotor passages, and means fordischarging from the pump liquid which passes through the outletopenings of said inner raceways.

4. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate racewa s having radii of curvature of substantial equal lengthin a common plane and each7 having an inlet openin and an outletopening, a raceway spac radially outwardly from said first-mentionedraceways and having openings leading therefrom to said inlet openings, arotor having a series of buckets adapted to traverse said inner racewayand having a series of eripherally directed and centrifugally discarging passages independent of said buckets and emptying into said outerraceway, means for introducing liquid into said rotor passages, andmeans fordischarging from the pump liquid which passes through theoutlet openings ofsaid lnner raceways.

5. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, araceway radially spaced from said first-mentioned raceways and havingopen- A raceway, means for introducingli in leadn therefrom to saidinlet openings, a gter havging a series of buckets ada to traverse saidarcuate raceways and av 1ng a series of ripherally directed andcentrifugally disc urging passages independent of said buckets and emtying Into said stpaced ui into said rotor passages, and meansischarging from the )ump liquid which passes through the outlet openingsof said arcuate raceways, said last-mentioned means includin a ocket disosed at each outlet opening an a apted to orm a liquid air-separatingwhirlpool and said pockets being in communication with one another.

, 6. In a pump of the class described, a plurallty of longitudinallyarcuate raceways ea having an inlet opening and an outlet opening,Y araceway spaced from said first-mentioned raceways and having openingsleading therefrom to said inlet openings a rotor havin a series ofbuckets adapted to traverse sad arcuate raceways and having a series ofperipherally directed and centrifugally discharging passages independentof said buckets and emptying into saidspaced raceway, means forintroducing` li uid into said rotor passages, means for dfsc arging fromthe pump liquid which passes through Athe outlet openings of theradially inner raceways, sald last-mentioned means including a pocketdisposed at each outlet opening and ada ted to form a liquidair-separating whirlpoo ,and a discharge connection in communicationwith both of said pockets, with one directlyvand the other through thefirst-menn tioned pocket.

7. In a pump of the class described, a plu- A rality of lonftudinallyarcuate raceways arranged in su stantially a common plane and eachhaving an inlet openin and an outlet opening, a raceway spaced ra 'allyfrom said first-mentioned raceways and having discharge openings leadingtherefrom to said inlet openings, ockets formed at said inlet openingsinto w ich the last-mentioned openings empty and each ada ted to form aliquid air-separating whirlpo a rotor having a series of buc ets a a tedto traverse said arcuate raceways and aving a series of r'pherally'directed and centrifugall 'scharging passages independent of saibuckets and emptyin into said spaced raceway, means for intro ucingliquid into said rotor l passages, and means for discharging from thepump liquid whch passes through the outlet openings of said arcuateraceways.

8. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways with uniform radii of curvature and each having aninlet opening and an outlet opening, a raceway spaced from sa'dtiret-mentioned raceways and having discharge openings leadng therefromto said inlet openings, pockets formed at said inlet openings ch withboth of said pockets Leonesa Y last-mentioned means including a poc etd1s posed at each outlet opening and adapted to erm a liquidair-separating whirlpool, and a discharge connection in communicationwith one directl and the other through the first-mentions pocket.

9. In a ump of the class described, a plurality o longitudinally arcuateracewa s each having an inlet opening and an out et opening and anotherraceway s ced from said first-mentioned raceways an having an o ningleadin therefrom, means for exc anging liqui between said spacedraceways after it has traversed one of the raceways, means fordischarging the exchanged ,liquid after it has traversed a separatedraceway, means for .introducing liquid into one of said raceways, and arotor having a series of buckets adapted to traverse saidfirst-mentioned raceways and having a plurality of peripherall'ydirected centri u lng :1 s emptying into the second-mentioned raceway. p

10.- In a pump of the class described, a raceway portion having on alateral face a plurality ofvlongitudinally arcuate racewa s each havingan inlet opening and an out et opening both of which extend `through theportion to the opposite lateral face and another raceway radiallyseparated from said first-mentioned raceways and having an o ing leadirgtherefrom, means for excg liqtuoi between said radially spaced racewaysa r it has traversed one of the .racewa s, vmeans for discharging theexc liquid after it has traversed a second and radiall se aratedraceway, means for introducing iquid into one of said raceways and arotor havi a series of buckets ada-pted to traverse sai iirst-mentionedraceways, and also havin a plurality of peripherally directed centri galy discharging passages emptying into the second-mentioned raceway.

11. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening,another raceway radially separated outwardly from said first-mentionedraceways and located in a section having an openfrom the raceway totheop osito lateral face of the section, means for exc anging liquidbetween said radially spaced racegally dischargways after it hastraversed one of the raceways means for discharging the exchanged liquiafter it has traversed a second raceway, means for introducing liquidinto one of said raceways, and a rotor having a series of bucketsadapted to traverse said iirst-mentioned raceways and having a pluralityof peripherally directed centrifugally discharging passages emptyinginto the second-mentioned raceway.

12. In a pump of the class described, a raceway portion having on alateral face a plurality of longitudinally arcuate raceways each havingan inlet opening and an outlet opening both of Which extend through theportion to the opposite lateral face and another race- Way radiallyseparated outwardly from said first-mentioned racevvays and having anopening leading therefrom to the opposite lateral face of the portion,means for exchanging liquid between said radially s aced raceways afterit has traversed one o the raceways, means for discharging the exchangedliquid after it has traversed the second raceway, means for introducingliquid into one of said raceways, and a rotor having a series of bucketsadapted to traverse said lirst-mentioned raceways and also having -aplurality of peripherally directed centrifugally discharging passagesemptying into the secondmentioned raceway.

13. In a pump of the class described, a plurality of longitudinallyarcuate raceways raving radii of uniform length in a substantiallycommon plane, each raceway having an inlet opening and an outletopening, a rotor having a series of buckets traversing said raceways,means for dischargin from the pump liquid propelled through said outletopenings, and means for directing liquid simultaneously into saidraceways through said inlet openings, said last-mentioned meansincluding a plurality ofperipherally directed and centrifugallydischarging passages in said rotor adapted to initially receive liuid, aiaceway into which said buckets empty and connections between said race-Way and the inlets for said first-mentioned raceways.

14. In a pump of the class described, a pluralit of longitudinaliarcuate raceways dispose in a substantie y common plane, each racewayhaving an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a rotor having a seriesof buckets traversing said raceways, means for discharging from the pumpliquid propelled through said outlet openings, and means for directingliquid simultaneously into said raceways through said inlet openings,said last-mentioned means including a plurality of peripherally directedand centrifugally discharging passages in said rotor adapted toinitially receive fluid, a raceway into which said buckets empty andconnections between said raceway and the inlets for said first-mentionedraceways, said connections including a pocket disposed at each of saidinlet openings, and a pair of openings formed in said last-mentionedraceway through which the latter discharges into said pockets.

15. In a puin of the class described, a raceway section Ihaving on onelateral face a plurality of longitudinally arcuate raceways each havingan inlet opening and an outlet opening both of which extend through thesection to the opposite lateral face, a casing section at each side ofsaid raceway section between which the raceway section is held inposition by the clamping action of the two casing sections, a rotor inone of said sections having aseries of buckets traversing said raceways,the other section having an inlet chamber in communication with bothraceways through said inlets, and also havin a discharue chamber forreceiving fluid ischarged through said outlets.

16. In a pump of the class described, a racevvay portion having on alateral face a lurality of longitudinally arcuate raceivays liavingradii of equal lenvth in a common plane and each havin an inlet openingand an outlet opening, Which'extend through the ortion to the oppositelateral face, a raially outer raceway separated from saidfirst-mentioned raceways and having a pair of outlet openings extendingthrough the portion to the opposite lateral face a pocket at each ofsaid inlet openings adapted to receive liquid discharged through theoutlet openings of said radially outer raceway and to direct the sameinto said radially inner raceways through their inlet openings, a pocketat each of said outlet openings for said inner raceways, each pocketvbeing adapted to form a liquid air-separating Whirlpool, a dischargeconnection for liquid discharged from the radial inner race- Ways and incommunication With said pockets at their outlet openings, and a rotorhavin a series of buckets traversing said radial y inner raceways and aseries of peripherally directed ccntrifugally discharging passagesemptying into said outer raceway, complemental surfaces on said rotorand raceway section sealing said raceways one from another, and meansfor introducing fluid into said rotor passages.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set in hand.

y ARTHUR W. BURKS.

